Wheel for drilling-rig structures



Dec. 4, 1928.

R. R. BLOSS WHEEL FOR DRILLING RIG STRUCTURES Original Filed April 25, 1925 1 I 1 l V 4 IN VEN TOR.

QW QG M A TTORNEYS.

Patented fies. 4, i923 ret ree U ITED srarss rATENT} orsice;-

. RICHARD is. BLOSS, or COLUMBUS, OHIO, essrenoit'so THE IN'rEnNer'IonA DERRICK & EQUIPMENT COMPANY, or COLUMBUS,-HIO, A censor/Arron .or 01110;

\VHEEL FOR DPIIIT'LLIN(Er-RIG STRUCTURESQ' Application filed April 25, 1925, Serial No. 25 ,910. Renewed Apri17,- 1-928.

My invention relates to wheels for drilla novel form of rim for tu wheels on the bull wheel structure, and for tug pulleys.

. The strains and stresses imposed upon tugwh'eel rim'structures employed in drilling rigs are well known to those skilled in the art. Also, it is well known that tug-wheel rim structures require movement from one location to another when they have served their purpose at the one location. Therefore, it is very desirable that such wheel-rim structures be of such construction thatassembly and disassemhly can be effected readily and easily in a minimum length of time; and that they be of such structure as tofacilitate trans portation, all of which decreases thepossi- Y ioility of distortion and destruction and, con- 'sequently, increase the length of time between overhauling and the length of life of the wheel-rim structures whereby the maintewheel rlm shown in Figure 1, showing one nance cost of drilling rigs is decreased. In accomplishing the above-mentioned advantages, it is very essential that strength, rigidity of parts, weather endurance,ease of manipulation and weight be borne in mind. Furthermore,fin connection with the usual wooden tug wheelswhiizh have wooden rims, wearing of the bull ropes, which drive the tug wheels, takes place very rapidly. Much of this wearing is caused'by these ropes contacting with the rather sharp corners of the wooden rim during the application and removal of the bull ropes whereby the ropes may be cut or otherwise damaged. 1n the design of a tug rim it is desirable to have a rim thatis strongand durable and which can be readily attached to the spokes of the wheel and yet have a smooth surface comprises a shaftl, carrying, adjacentione on the edge of the rim and without any protubefrances, so as not to cut or unnecessarily Wear the bull ropes when or put on the rim. v In carrying out my invention, 1 provide they are taken oif a tug-wheel rim structure wherein a smooth surface ispresented to the-bull rope during the application to or removal from the run,

as well as a rim possessing strength, rigidity of parts and lightness in weight.

One of the features of my invention is the provision of a wheel rim constructed of metal and having a. corrugated surface for carrying the bull rope. p

A further feature of my invention is to 'a sect-ion removed.

' one way in which the rim may be attached to S0 construct a metal :tug wheelrim.-.with smoothfianges or sides so that when apply mg. or removing the bull :ropes to or from the bull or tug wheel, any .damageior' wear myiinvention will he apparent as "this doscription progressesand b reference tot-he drawings wherein, j I Figure 1 lisaperspective view of aftug wheel structure embodying:my-invention, the

tug wheel beingshown with a sectionthere- 0f removed.

Figure '2. is a sectional view of the, tug

Wheel. I 3 I uFigure'3is a perspective view of .a til-g1- whe'el structure, showingv a modified formoi my invention, the tug wheel being shown with wav in'which the rimmayhe attaehedtothe Figure .4: is a sectional view of the tugwheel rim shown ,111 F1gure'3, andshowing the wheel. i

. Figure 5 is a sectionalview ofanotherform ofmy nvention SllOWlIlg' the ropdcontactmg surfaces and themanner in which the rim" may be attached to the :wheel. i In the drawings, ZLIlCl.W1th particular reference to Figure 1, I haveshown a tug-wheel structure embodying my1invention and which gated and has Jridgesc5 and. furrows or grooves 6. The furrows orv groovesB-ure employed as rope grooves and accommodate the bull rope when it is-i'n positionon thetug wheel; The edges of :the.rim 4: terminate in flanges 7. These flanges 7 preferably extend inwardly toward the shaftl and :to-

ward each other, substantially parallel .to

of mytug rim for tug-wheel structures.v

the rim 15 is preferably formed the adjacent wall of one of the furrows or grooves 6. l p

By directing the flanges"? inwardly toward each other, the rim 1 is provided with curved rope-contacting surfaces 8. The ropecontactingsurfaces 8 project beyond, or'oven hang, the 'surfaceof the flanges 7 as well as the spokes 3 or other parts of the tug-wheel structure, such as the bolts 0r rivets which may be employed in securing the rimto the wheel structure.

The rim 4: may be secured to the wheel structure in any desired manner, as by means of rivets or bolts 10, and members 11. {As

shownin Figure 2, the member 11 comprises an angular-shaped member having one portion thereof secured to a spoke 3 as by means of bolts or rivets 12. The angular member 11 has an upstanding arm 13. which extends parallel with, and so as tocontactwitlnthe inner surface of one of the flanges 7. The upstanding portion 13 may be secured to the flange 10. It willbe understood that there are two angular members 11 secured to each spoke,

and one member 11 attached to each flange 7 of the rim. V In Figures 3 and 4, I show a modified form In this form,

V of a single length of material similar to the rim 1 previously described- The rim 15 is corrugated throughout its length, thus having ridges 16 and furrowsv or grooves 17. In this form, the flanges 18 of the rim 15 terminate in beads, preferably in rounded form, the edges of the beads extending inwardly' towards each other at 19.

The beads 18 provide rope-contacting sur faces, as shown at 20. These surfaces 20 GX- tend beyond, or overhang, other parts of the rim 15, and .the spokes, and other portions of the tug-wheel structure, thus providing a smooth rope-contacting surface;

e The rim 15may be. secured to the tug-wheel structure in any desired manner, but;I have invention, in whichthe rim 25 is corrugatedshown a plate 21 having arms 22, which arms are adapted to be securedfto either side of the spoke 3' in any desired manner as by means of rivets, bolts or by welding. The

f plate 21 has a-ridge 23 adapted to. fit into the furrowunderneath one of the ridges 16, and the rim 15is secured to the'plate 21 by the *use of rivets, bolts, or'by the weldingprocess.

plate-21 and run The tugwheelstructure, 15 are thus securely associated with each other. I

In Figuref), I show another form 'ofmy soas to form ridges 26 and furrows or grooves 27 for ing the rope. In this form, the rim 25 has flanges 28 which extend from the circumference of the rim in a diverging manner, and the flanges have'their edges turned inwardly 7 by the use of the rivets or bolts 7 the purpose of accommodat toward each other as at 29. At'the point where the edges of the flanges 28 areturned are provided as at 30.

This formof rim may be'attached to the spokes 3 of the wheel structure in any desired .inwardly, smooth rope-contacting surfaces I turned edge 29 of the flange. The upstanding portion 83 may be secured to the flange in any desired. manner, but-I have shown such attachment by means of a rivet 34. The rivet 3a is preferably countersunk in theflange 28 so as to form a smooth surface for contacting with the, bull rope when such rope is appl ed toor removed from the rim.

xl Vhen the rope is applied to or removed from this rim the rope contacts with the smooth surface of the flange 28, and the rounded surface 30 of the flange. This rim,

like the rims shown in Figures 1 and 3, has,

preferably, a ropecontacting surface which overhangs the spokes, orother structure of the wheel, so that when applying' orremov ingthe rope, the rope will not be, cut or otherwise damaged-by any protuberances or projections- The tug wheel is provided withthe usual projection 85, commonly known as a dog.

The tug-wheel structure is also provided with suitable handles 36, whichjhandles36 and dog 35 are used in the application or removal of the bull rope to or from the tug wheel, 7

which operation is well known. to those skilled in the art. v, j

- In applying a bull rope to my. tug rim .by the use of the dog 35 and handles 36 in the usual manner, the bull rope, contacts only with the smooth contacting surface of the rim; This pointflof contact is the overhanging or projecting curved surface 8 of the rim,

shown in Figures 1 and 2, or the overhanging" or projecting curved surface 20 of the rim 15, shown in Figures. 3 and 1 or the smooth surfaces 28 and 30 of the rim shown in Figure 5. In thus providingsmooth rope-con tacting surfaces which overhang or project over the tug-wheel structure, and other parts,

such as the fastening means 10 or, spoke '3, the bull rope is prevented from [coming into con tact with such projections when being applied to or removed from the tug-wheel rim,

and the life ofthe rope is lengthened by not being damaged or destroyed by comlng into contact with such projections.

I have described my rim as ably corrugated throughout its length, and having its abutting ends secured" in any desired man:

nor. It may, however, be'desirable to form being" preferformed of a single length of material,

my rim in sections, and thismay be accomof a single length of material are secured.

While I have described my invention as being adapted particularly totug wheels and tug pulleys of drilling-rig structures, I do not desire to be limited to such use, but desire that my rim structure may be used wherever such rim structures are employed.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In tug wheel structure, a rim having a corrugated surface, the sides of whichare bent inwardly toward the axis of the'wheel, and a projecting member having a portion adjacent the bent sides of said rim bent outwardly in a diverging manner, the bent sides of said rim and the outwardly diverging portion of said projecting member providing'a smooth surface to a tug rope when in contact therewith.

2. In tug wheel structure, a rim having a corrugated surface, the sides of which are bent inwardly toward the axis of the wheel, and a dog having a portion adjacent the bent sides of said rim bent outwardly in a diverg ing manner, the bent sides of said rim and the outwardly diverging portion of said dog providing a smooth surface to a tug rope when in contact therewith.

3. In a bull wheelstructure, a, tug rim,

spokes, and rounded rope contactingsurfaces on the sldes immedlately wlthln the perlphery of said rim and protruding laterallybeyond.

the edge of said rim and beyond other abrading surfaces.

In testimony whereof I hereby aflix my signature. I 1

, 'RICHARD R. BLoss, 

